Timing device



Feb; 27, 1934.

c. H. HODGKINS 1,948,758

TIMING DEVICE Filed April 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l fiy/ INVENTOR C/zar/es HHOay/U/IS.

4/1 ATTQRNEY Feb 27, 1934. c H HQDGK|N$ 1,948,758

TIMING DEVICE Filed April 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 27,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFNIE Application April 18, 1930. Serial No.445,512

Claims.

My invention relates generally to tin le-delay devices and particularlyto time-delay devices of a mechanical type.

The object or" my invention, generally stated, is to provide a timingdevice which shall be sim ple and efficient in operation and which maybe readily and economically manufactured.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for adjusting amechanical timing device to function after the lapse of anypredetermined time interval within its time range.

Another object of my invention is to provide a timing device in whichthe time of operation shall not be affected by temperature variationsand the position of mounting.

According to my invention, 1 provide a timing device which comprises anescapement mechanism in which the angular movement of a balance wheelmay be changed to vary the time of operation.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a motor starter in which atiming device, constructed in accordance with my invention, is utilizedto introduce a time interval between the closing of the contact membersof the motor starter;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken along the line 1I-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line III-III of Fig. 4,showing details of the construction of the timing device and Fig. 4 is aview, in front elevation, of the timing device.

In this instance, the timing device is shown disposed to control theoperation of a switch. Referring to the drawings, the switch shown inFig. 1 comprises an electromagnetic contaotor provided with a magnetcoil 11 disposed to actuate an armature 12, which is pivotally mountedon a bracket 13.

It will be observed that a contact member 14 is mounted on the armature12 and is disposed to engage a contact member 15 when the armature 12 isactuated by the magnet 11. Two additional contact members 16 and 17 aremounted on an arm 18 which is pivotally mounted on brackets 19. The arm18 is actuated by two springs 20 and 21, supported on pins 22 and 23,respectively, which are attached to the armature 12. The springs 20 and21 are compressed when the armature 12 and contact member 14 stand inthe posito engage contact in hers 24 and 25, respectively, when thecosed It will be observed that contact in 24 and are so mounted on theframe of the contactor that the contact Member is engaged by the contact3 r 16, before the contact member 17 engages contact member 25 when thearm 18 is actuated to close the switch.

As shown in Fig. 2, a rack 26 disposed to engage a pinion 27 of a timingdevice 28. The rack 26 is pivotally mounted on an arm 29, attached tothe contact-carrying 18. be seen that the rack 26 engages the pinion 2and will operate it when the arm 18 is actuated about its pivot point bythe springs 20 and 21. The movement of the arm 18 will be governed bythe rate of rotation of the pinion 2'? of the n timing device 28.

As shown in Fig. 3, the timing device 28 comprises the pinion 27,mounted on a shaft 30, which is supported in the frame 31 by bearings 32and 33. A ratchet wheel 34 is attached to so so constructed that therack 26 will drive the 85 pinion when the rack is being moved in onedirection only, that is, when the arm 18 is actuated by the springs 20and 21 to cause contact members 16 and 17 to engage contact members 24and 25, respectively.

A pallet 35 is pivotally mounted on a pin 36 and is disposed to engagethe teeth of the ratchet wheel 34 to control the rotation of the ratchetwheel. The pallet 35 is provided with an upwardiy extending arm 37 whichhas its end curved at a right angle to engage a slot 39 in the face ofthe balance wheel 38. Therefore, when the arm 37 of the pallet 35 isoscillated by the ratchet wheel 34, the balance wheel 38 will beoscillated. The speed of the ratchet wheel will be governed by theamplitude of oscillation of the balance wheel.

The balance wheel 38 is pivotally mounted on a pin 40, which extendsthrough a slot 41 in the cover plate 42 of the timing device 28. Thebalance wheel 38 may be held in a predetermined position by a nut 43which engages a spring washer 44.

As shown in Fig. 3, a shoulder is provided on the pin to engage a washer45 to prevent the balance wheel 38 from binding when the nut 43 istightened against the spring washer 44. It can be seen that the relationof the balance ,wheel 38 to the arm 3'? or" the pallet may be readilyadjusted by raising or lowering the pin in the slot 41.

It can also be seen that the angular movement of the balance wheel 38,which is oscillated by the arm 37 of the pallet 35, will be varied asthe position of the balance wheel is changed with reference to the arm37. Varying the angular movement of the balance wheel will change itsperiod of oscillation, thereby changing the rate of oscillation of thepallet and, consequently, the rate of rotation of the ratchet wheel.

In the operation of the switch, when the magnet coil 11 of the contactor10 is energized, the armature 12 is attracted, and the contact meniber14 is immediately actuated into engagement with contact member 15.Springs 20 and 21 are compressed when the armature 12 is actuated intothe switch-closing position by the magnet 11, and the arm 18 is actuatedangularly about its pivot point. The movement of the arm 18 is socontrolled by the rack 26, which engages the pinion 27 of the timingdevice 28, that a predetermined time interval lapses between theengagement of contact members 14 and 15 and the engagement of contactmembers 16 and 24, and also contact members 17 and 25.

It will be readily understood that a variation in the interval of timebetween the engagement of the respective contact members of thecontactor 10 may be obtained by adjusting the tiniing device 28. Therotation of the ratchet wheel 34, driven by the rack and pinion, isgoverned by the pallet 35, which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel.As the ratchet wheel is rotated,

the arm 37 of the pallet oscillates and thereby causes the balance wheel38 to oscillate.

The rate of rotation of the ratchet wheel may be varied by adjusting theposition of the balance wheel, with reference to the arm of the pallet,to change the angular movement of the balance wheel. In this manner, therate of rotation of the pinion 27 may be controlled and, consequently,the movement of the contact-carrying arm 18 may be governed to controlthe time of engagement of contact members 16 and 24 and also contactmembers 17 and 25, respectively.

When the magnet coil 11 is deenergized, the respective contact membersor" the contactor 10 may be immediately disengaged, since, as previouslyexplained, the teeth of the rack 26 engage the pinion 2'7 when the rackis being moved in one direction only.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above-described construction,and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not 7 in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention: 1. In an escapement governor, in combination,

a ratchet wheel disposed to be rotated in either direction, a slottedbalance wheel disposed for oscillatory movement for controlling thespeed at which the ratchet wheel may be driven, means interposed betweenthe ratchet wheel and the balance wheel for translating the rotarymotion of the ratchet wheel into an oscillatory motion and cooperatingwith the slot in the balance wheel to oscillate the balance wheel, andmeans for varying the amplitude of oscillation of the balance wheel.

2. In an escapement governor, in combination, a ratchet wheel disposedto be rotated in either direction, a slotted balance wheel disposed foroscillatory movement for controlling the speed at which the ratchetwheel may be driven, a double-action pallet interposed between theratchet wheel and the balance wheel for translating the rotary motion ofthe ratchet wheel into an oscillatory motion, a pallet arm cooperatingwith the slot in the balance wheel to oscillate the balance wheel, andmeans for varying the amplitude of oscillation of the balance wheel.

3. In an escapement governor, in combination, a ratchet wheel disposedto be rotated in either direction, a slotted balance wheel disposed foroscillatory movement for controlling the speed at which the ratchetwheel may be driven, a doubleaction pallet interposed between theratchet wheel and the balance wheel for translating the rotary motion ofthe ratchet wheel into an oscillatory motion, a pallet arm cooperatingwith the slot in the balance Wheel to oscillate the balance wheel, andmeans for varying the position of the balance wheel with reference tothe pallet arm, whereby the amplitude of oscillation of the balancewheel may be varied.

4. In an escapement governor, in combination, a ratchet wheel disposedto be rotated in either direction, a slotted balance wheel disposed foroscillatory movement to control the speed at which the ratchet wheel maybe driven, a doubleaction pallet interposed between the ratchet wheeland the balance wheel for translating the rotary motion of the ratchetwheel into an oscillatory motion, a pallet arm cooperating with the slotin the balance wheel to oscillate the balance wheel, means for mountingthe balance wheel in a predetermined relation to the pallet arm, andmeans for adjusting the relation of the balance wheel to the pallet arm,whereby the amplitude of oscillation of the balance wheel may be varied.

5. A timing device comprising, in combination, a double-actionescapement mechanism, means for driving the escapement mechanism, aslotted balance wheel disposed to govern the rate of movement of theescapement mechanism, said balance wheel being driven by an arm of theescapement mechanism which engages the slot in the balance wheel, meansfor varying the position of the end of the arm in the slot in thebalance wheel to vary the rate of movement of the escapement mechanism,whereby the rate of rotation of the driving means is varied.

CHARLES H. HODGKINS.

